Il leone di San Marco (1963)

Il leone di San Marco (1963). 1h 46m

“Set in Venice, around 1620, a group of Skokian pirates invade a nightly ball where the Dogeu0026#39;s son, Manrico (Gordon Scott) is engaged with a Lady, and after stealing the guestsu0026#39; jewellery, Manrico makes a vow to stamp out these pillaging pirates from terrorising Venice and dons a mask to become the leader of St. Mark ( the symbol of Venice), however, during this, he falls in love with a pirate (Giana Maria Canale), which poses a problem as his father wouldnu0026#39;t approve of this union.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGordon Scott dons in flamboyant costume and tights and rattles a fair sabre ( well, epee) as the hero, though itu0026#39;s baffling why his likeminded group of saviours didnu0026#39;t don a mask too, but thatu0026#39;s overthinking, and with a vibrant film punctuated with so much action – sword fighting galore- itu0026#39;s best just to relax and enjoy this pulp matinee style swashbuckler for what it is. Good escapism.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe production is really good, thereu0026#39;s opulent sets, great costumes, ballroom dances and the grand view of Venice, itu0026#39;s canals and itu0026#39;s ornately gaudy gondoliers. The latter lends an authenticity to the proceedings.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGordon Scott cuts (quite literally) a fine dash as the hero, coming across as sincere, and Gian Maria Canale acts well as the lady pirate who is willing to change her ways for love. Ah, the perils and fortunes of romance!”